Krippendorf's Tribe

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Krippendorf's Tribe

PG-13

1998

1h 34m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

17%

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41 Reviews

24%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After squandering his grant money, despondent and recently widowed anthropologist James Krippendorf must produce hard evidence of the existence of a heretofore undiscovered New Guinea tribe. Grass skirts, makeup, and staged rituals transform his three troubled children into the Shelmikedmu, a primitive culture whose habits enthrall scholars. But when a spiteful rival threatens to blow the whistle on Krippendorf's ruse, he gets into the act as well.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

Jan 9, 2018

2.5/4

Krippendorf's Tribe, a surprisingly enjoyable piece of piffle, is pure Disney all the way, replete with a wholly preposterous plot, engaging performances and a feel-good, lesson-teaching ending.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

Is it possible to recommend a whole comedy on the basis of one scene that made you laugh almost uncontrollably? I fear not. And yet Krippendorf's Tribe has such a scene, and many comedies have none.

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Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

Jan 29, 2024

3/5

You couldn't make this comedy today, with its long list of now-taboo subjects. The faked ethnographical research is definitely cultural misappropriation; the movie's focus is sex, lies, and videotape, and none of it can really be said to be good for kids.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Nov 10, 2023

2/4

...an oddball premise that’s employed to sporadically watchable effect by Holland...

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Jan 19, 2023

B

A clever and funny movie about a desperate lie that grows out of control.

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Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Mar 26, 2020

1/5

A hateful, disgusting and amoral travesty.

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Jachym L

@RT51180493 Apr 12, 2025

Didn't expect much and laughed out loud all the time!

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Feb 12, 2023

uncomfortable bigoted and unfunny.

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Mar 27, 2021

It's a absolute travesty that I just now discovered this movie. It is beyond funny. It's been years since a comedy made me laugh this much. Please watch it, tell your friends and let's all push this rating up to where it deserves to be at!

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Jan 17, 2015

Just another bad one.

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Jun 5, 2014

This film reeks with the breezy comedy odor of the '90s. It hosts a wacky set up, corn-tastic music cues and characters who are far too easily fooled... but it's not all bad. You will laugh if you don't think too hard about it.

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Jan 22, 2013

I don't know why anyone thought Africa was interesting, because it isn't. It also isn't funny.

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Todd Holland

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

James Krippendorf

Jenna Elfman

Veronica Micelli

Natasha Lyonne

Shelly Krippendorf

Gregory Smith

Mickey Krippendorf

Carl Michael Lindner

Edmund Krippendorf

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Synopsis

After squandering his grant money, despondent and recently widowed anthropologist James Krippendorf must produce hard evidence of the existence of a heretofore undiscovered New Guinea tribe. Grass skirts, makeup, and staged rituals transform his three troubled children into the Shelmikedmu, a primitive culture whose habits enthrall scholars. But when a spiteful rival threatens to blow the whistle on Krippendorf's ruse, he gets into the act as well.

Director: Todd Holland
Producer: Larry Brezner
Screenwriter: Frank Parkin, Charlie Peters
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Humor)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 27, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.6M
Runtime: 1h 34m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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